In a recent national poll released earlier this year, close to 90 percent of Americans said they have a favorable view of farmers, with 92 percent agreeing that it’s important to provide farmers with federal funding.
Conducted by the National Crop Insurance Services, the poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters over the phone and was reported with a 3.1 percent margin of error.
Along with overall support, the poll showed 70 percent of voters think farmers should help fund a portion of their safety nets, which is currently the case under most crop insurance policies for farmers. Close to 80 percent of people said farmers should have discounts on insurance premiums, and they agreed that what farmers currently work with is appropriate.
The poll also showed that Americans feel that privately owned companies should provide crop insurance, rather than the government by a 20-point margin. Interestingly, the results of the poll were positive across national party lines, demonstrating the importance of farm policy to both political sides.
Jon McHenry, vice president of North Star Opinion Research, a polling firm, said that the polling response “isn’t surprising when you consider eight out of 10 voters believe a vibrant agricultural industry is critical to the country’s national security.”
Find the complete poll response at cropinsuranceinamerica.org.
– Rachel Bertone
